Dialect Poetry of Southern Italy (Italian Poetry in Translation Book 2)

Dirt Road Epigraphs

1.

Still, we’re still Sicans
but there flows in our veins
ancient blood of Saracens
bursting like forests, volcanos.
2.
Every Siculo-heart’s
a volcano when it ignites
and the blood in our veins
is breakers without foam.
3.
Our stock, ancient stock ─
millennial ─ if not older ─
perhaps you left your home,
your fields and dirt roads
but you came back singing
just like warriors do!
(1927-1934)
(Translated by Justin Vitiello)